Wilmington

Business owner finds Wilmington City Hall locked during public meeting

Published by admin on Tue, 09/08/2020 - 12:39pm

A Coal City woman who operates a dog grooming business in Wilmington asked to be placed on the agenda for the Sept. 1 City Council meeting, hoping to discuss a water issue with the city’s elected officials.

But, she said, her plans were thwarted when she arrived for that 7 p.m. council meeting and found the front doors to City Hall locked.

Nicole Kasalko has operated Licks & Love Dog Grooming on Davy Lane for the past three years. Kasalko said she wanted to discuss an ongoing issue with the water supply to businesses on Davy Lane.

Honor Flight Chicago thanks Wilmington veterans

Published by admin on Tue, 09/01/2020 - 5:25pm

Two Wilmington Vietnam veterans received a warm surprise last week when an Honor Flight Chicago volunteer presented them with signs to display in their yards to thank them for their service.

Veterans, Dave Melhorn and Dan Sedlachek, were supposed to have been on a flight to Washington, D.C. last Friday as a part of the Honor Flight program, but due to the novel coronavirus pandemic their trips were postponed.

The Mar will reopen, just not yet

Published by admin on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 3:24pm

The novel coronavirus pandemic shuttered businesses back in March, with a slow reopening that started up in June when the region entered Phase 4 of Gov. JB Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan.

But while bars and restaurants and bowling alleys welcomed back customers, Wilmington’s iconic movie theater has yet to unveil any new films on the big screen.

Denise Issert, owner of The Mar on Main Street in Wilmington,  said the theater will definitely open its doors again, but not in the current climate.

COVID-19 cases increase in Wilmington

Published by admin on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:15pm

There has been a rise in reported cases of the novel coronavirus in Wilmington.

Police Chief Phil Arnold reported the most recent numbers, shared with the department by the Will County Health Department, during the Aug. 4 meeting of the City Council.

Arnold said the total number of local cases within the city limit of Wilmington is 28, confirmed at 17 different locations.

The total number of total confirmed cases throughout the entire 60481 zip code now stands at 81 out of 2,215 tests administered, a 3.6% positivity rate.

Wilmington water plant worker tested for COVID

Published by admin on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:10pm

An employee with Wilmington’s water and sewer department had to be sent home recently, following direct contact with someone diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

A family member of the public works employee, who asked not to be named, called the Free Press Advocate with concerns that the city wasn’t taking the pandemic seriously. According to the caller, the city did not move quickly on the incident or inform other employees that a worker at the plant was living with someone who tested positive for the virus.

Mystery seeds make an appearance in Wilmington mailbox

Published by admin on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:07pm

Mysterious seed packets from China have been arriving in mailboxes all across the country.

Now, even some local residents have become the recipients of the curious containers.

On Aug. 4, Wilmington Police Chief Phil Arnold told members of the City Council that a resident had contacted the police department after finding the suspicious legumes in their daily mail.

Kankakee River Dam survey due back to city by November

Published by admin on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:05pm

The city of Wilmington began sending out surveys this month, looking for public input regarding the dam along the Kankakee River.

Members of the Buildings, Grounds, Parks, Health and Safety Committee discussed the survey during their meeting in July, hammering out the details of how to reach out to the public and learn as much as they can on public opinion for the future of the dam.

Since March, the subject of the dam has been resurrected on the committee level, with some aldermen seeking options and public opinion on revamping the dam or removing it altogether.

Catfish Days sunk

Published by admin on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 3:25pm

They say there are plenty of fish in the sea. But for those seeking to enjoy a little Catfish in Wilmington, you’ll have to wait one more year.

The annual Catfish Days festival and celebration has officially been scrapped for 2020.

While the original dates for the festival were already passed, there was still a glimmer of hope that a smaller event could be held this fall.

This year’s festival was originally scheduled for July 23-26, with the theme “The Blues Brothers.”

Wilmington officials, buyers, sellers duke it out over water supply

Published by admin on Tue, 07/21/2020 - 3:39pm

Issues surrounding a water supply pipe to the old Sartore Auto Body Shop on south Water Street in Wilmington caused sparks to fly at the most recent Water, Sewer, Streets and Alleys Committee meeting.

According to both parties involved in the sale of that commercial building, the supply line that is connected to 518 S. Water St. also services 516 S. Water St., a bank-owned vacant home that sits behind the commercial building that fronts the roadway.

Kankakee River Drive in Wilmington to get speed reduction

Published by admin on Tue, 07/21/2020 - 3:31pm

A short stretch of roadway in Wilmington is getting a speed limit reduction in an attempt to slow down drivers who neighbors say have been putting the pedal to the metal too often.

Police Chief Phil Arnold told members of the Police and ESDA Committee on July 14 that the department had received multiple complaints about speeding vehicles along Kankakee River Drive, west of the railroad tracks.

Officers spent several weeks conducting a study, running stationary radar several times a week. The patrols showed several speeding vehicles, but not major violations.